Bead stringer

ABSTRACT

Method for stringing beads wherein a plurality of cords, not less than six, are paired and the cords of each pair are crisscrossed in a horizontally run through a bead, resulting in a re-pairing, which pair is then vertically run through a bead together with a stand having a central opening for practicing the method and the resultant three dimensional string of beads.

United States Patent Powell, Jr.

[451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] BEAD STRINGER [72] Inventor: Edgar S. Powell, Jr., 7834 E. Northland Drive, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85251 [22] Filed: June 9, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 831,565

[52] US. Cl ..29/241 [51] Int. Cl ..B23p 14/04 [58] Field of Search ..29/24l; 108/50, 28; 9/134; 223/109 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,651 6/1956 Saito ..223/l09 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5,487 3/ 1897 Great Britain ..223/ 109 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden Attorney-Finnegan, Henderson & Farabow [5 7] ABSTRACT Method for stringing beads wherein a plurality of cords, not less than six, are paired and the cords of each pair are crisscrossed in a horizontally run through a bead, resulting in a repairing, which pair is then vertically run through a bead together with a stand having a central opening for practicing the method and the resultant three dimensional string of beads.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZI I972 SHEET 1 BF 2,

INVENTOR EDGAR s. POWELL, JR.

FIG. 2

PATENTEUMAR 21 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 30 INVENTOR EDGAR s POWELL, JR.

i ZZZ/269M, fena ason Qfl aow ATTORNEYS HEAD STRINGER The invention herein relates to the threading of beads and more particularly to the method for doing so and including means for conveniently practicing the method and the product resulting therefrom.

To avoid confusion in terminology, cord" will be used for the material on which the beads are threaded, thread or threading" used for the act of placing the beads on the cord, and string" will be used with reference to the finished product. Additionally considering the passage through a bead as the reference point, the cords are defined as being in a horizontal crisscrossed run when the passage throughthe bead is in a horizontal plane, and as being in a vertical parallel run when the bead passage is in a vertical plane.

More specifically, the method basically contemplates the utilization of an even number of cords, not less than six, joined atone end; preferably passed through one bead; and then radially spread and angularly spaced apart from the knot or head, as the center point. Thereafter a first pair of adjacent cords is crisscrossed through a bead, followed by the second pair through a second bead, followed by the third pair through a third bead. The next step is to pass the re-paired cords emerging from adjacent and facing horizontal bead ends, vertically through a bead followed by the next or second pair vertically through a second bead, and the third pair vertically through a third bead.

The above sequence of horizontal crisscrossing runs and vertical paralleling runs is then repeated until a string or desired length is completed, and finally all cords are passed through one bead and tied into a knot. The result is a string which has a three-dimensional appearance, substantially triangular when six cords are used, rectangular when eight cords are used, pentagonal when 10 cords are used, with the shape being dependent upon the number ofcords.

In carrying out the method a stand is utilized to permit the knotted end of the cords to be centrally suspended with the cords extending radially and angularly spaced about a collar member. In this manner successive pairs of cords may be easily selected.

The stand generally comprises a tabletop provided with a central opening surrounded by a cushion collar extending vertically from the top. The top is supported by legs at a suitable height, providing in effect a central well in which the ends of the cords are suspended and knotted, with the cords angularly disposed around the collar, draped over the tabeltop, removably held in position, on the tabletop, and the threading needle positioned in the cushion collar. The stand may be set upon a revolving lazy susan platform to facilitate the operation.

From the foregoing it is seen that the object of the invention is to produce a string of beads having a three-dimensional characteristic and the method for readily producing such strings.

A further object is a stand for utilization with the method whereby the latter may be readily practiced.

A further object is a stand which may be readily folded for packing, storing or the like.

A still further object is a string of beads having increased strength as two cords pass through each bead.

The foregoing and other objects and the advantages will become apparent from the description when read in view of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stand with the cords positioned for practicing the method;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the method;

FIG. 4 is a portion of a string when six cords are used, and

FIG. 5 is a portion of a string when eight cords are used.

Referring to the drawings the stand includes a tabletop 12 which may be of any shape but is preferably circular and provided with a central circular opening 14. The tabletop upper surface and outer periphery is preferably covered with cloth or other soft material 16 for reasons hereafter explained.

Surrounding the opening 14 and secured to tabletop 12 in any suitable manner is a cushion collar 18, which in the embodiment illustrated is a ring of styrofoam into which needles 28 may be repeatedly inserted and removed.

The tabletop 12 is shown as supported by a plurality of legs 20, which may be secured to the underside of the top in any suitable manner, preferably being foldable and locked in vertical position in a manner similar to the folding legs on any conventional bridge table. It should be apparent that any means may be used to support the tabletop at the desired height. The stand may then be supported on a revolving lazy-Susan platform 21.

The stand further includes a plurality of clips disposed radially and spaced angularly around the periphery of the tabletop. The clip is shown constructed in the same manner as a conventional spring-type clothes pin, and may be removable, but in the preferred form the clip leg 24 (FIG. 2) is secured to the undersurface of the tabletop and thus when the outer ends are pressed toward each other the upper leg 26 will be moved away from the top to permit a cord to be held thereunder. It is apparent that the clips could be replaced by simple radial projections around which a turn or two of the cord could be made, but the clips have been found to be the most satisfactory holding means.

The dimensions of the stand are not critical. The stand actually reduced to practice has a tabletop 12 with a 15-inch diameter and has a central opening 14 5 inches in diameter. The cushion collar 18 has an inside diameter of 5 inches, an outside diameter of 9 inches and is 2 inches high. The edges inside and outside should be rounded. The tabletop is supported by 18-inch legs, and preferably the stand is supported on a revolving means, such the lazy susan 21 to permit rotation when in use.

With the stand so constructed, its use in carrying out the method will be described with relation to producing a string of beads having six cords (see FIG. 3). A desirable length of cord 1 is threaded through a needle 28 and the needle is inserted into the cushion collar 18. The cord 1 is then looped down and then up to the tabletop and then draped across the tabletop and over the cushion 18 with the free end suspended downwardly through opening 14, and with the proper length suspended the cord is secured by the clip 24 to the tabletop,

the cloth top and periphery of the tabletop preventing abra-- sion of the cord. Not only does the styrofoam cushion collar 18 permit repeated insertion and removal of the needle 28, its surface also serves to hold the cord 1 in position. The above step is repeated for each of the cords 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (see FIG. 1) and each cord will be radially and angularly spaced approximately 60 from the one next to it. The free ends of the six cords are now, in effect, within a well, and their free ends are gathered together and knotted, whereupon a weight 30 is attached at the knot and preferably all six cords are then successively strung in vertical parallel relation through a single bead (see FIG. 2). The weight 30 may be an ornamental clasp.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the cords may be considered as three pairs 1 and 2; 3 and 4; and 5 and 6. Cords l and 2 are initially crisscrossed in a horizontally run through a spherical bead 101 and each cord is then replaced on the collar cushion 18 in the position of the other, i.e., the needle of cord 1 is now radially positioned in the starting position of cord 2 and the needle of cord 2 is now in the starting position of cord 1. The second pair of cords 3 and 4 are now crisscrossed through head 102 and the needles radially transposed to the others position. The third pair of cords 5 and 6 are now crisscrossed through bead 109 and transposed radially at the tabletop in like manner to the earlier pairs. This step would be repeated for each pair of cords were more used.

It will now be seen from FIG. 3 that the pairing of cords becomes 5 and 2, 1 and 4, and 3 and 6. The respective pairs are now paralleled and vertically run through the beads 103, 104, and 105 and each needle is replaced in its previous position. At the next step the initial pairs are again horizontally crisscrossed through beads 106, 107, and 108 and comparing beads 101 and 106 it will be seen that the crisscrossing has been reversed and all the cords will be in their initial positions. On the next vertical run in order to prevent a vertical bead from being directly over a horizontal bead, the threading is now shifted 60 to pair 6 and 1; 2 and 3; 4 and 5; and each respective pair run vertically through the respective beads 110,111, and 112.

It is thus seen that the string comprises successive rows of horizontal beads and vertical beads, and the vertical runs must always consist of the cords which become paired by emerging from the facing ends of adjacent beads because of the criss crossing, or stated another way the pair of cords crisscrossed through a single bead are never paired for the next vertical run. As a result when the beads are in position on a completed string the beads of each successive row will tangentially engage and be centrally disposed relative to two beads of row below it. This is illustrated in FlG. 4 wherein a three-dimensional triangular effect is obtained.

FIG. 5 illustrates a string wherein four pairs of cords are used, and the horizontal rows are of spherical beads 40 and the vertical beads 42 are elongated ovals. The resultant string is rectangular in cross section and each side is similar to the view illustrated.

From the foregoing it can be seen that by varying the number of pairs of cords, but not less than three pairs, and by successively alternating horizontal crisscrossing runs and the parallel vertical runs, numerous varieties of strings may be produced, each of which has a three-dimensional effect.

It is also apparent that variations can be made; for example, there can be successive vertical runs between horizontal runs, or vice versa, or any combination of same, and in all instances whenever a horizontal row and vertical row succeed each other the beads of each row will be centered between those of the other row. It is necessary however that in all variations the cord extending from one end of a horizontal bead be paired with the cord projecting from the adjacent or facing end of the next horizontal bead.

It is also apparent that variations can be made in the size, shape and color of the beads used, as well as the number in each row.

I claim:

1. A stand for use in the stringing of beads, comprising:

a tabletop having a central opening therethrough;

a collar of cushion material mounted on the tabletop and surrounding the opening;

means supporting the tabletop at a desired height;

revolving means carrying said supporting means for enabling the stand to be revolved during stringing of the beads; and

a plurality of clips spaced around the periphery of the tabletop for holding a plurality of cords in position on the stand.

2. A stand as in claim 1 wherein the clips are angularly spaced around the periphery of the tabletop at substantially 60 intervals. 

1. A stand for use in the stringing of beads, comprising: a tabletop having a central opening therethrough; a collar of cushion material mounted on the tabletop and surrounding the opening; means supporting the tabletop at a desired height; revolving means carrying said supporting means for enabling the stand to be revolved during stringing of the beads; and a plurality of clips spaced around the periphery of the tabletop for holding a plurality of cords in position on the stand.
 2. A stand as in claim 1 wherein the clips are angularly spaced around the periphery of the tabletop at substantially 60* intervals. 